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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
•I 

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 43. 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, 
(Forage-Crop Investigations). 

WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief. 



REDTOP {Agrostis alba). 

Eedtop is the only grass of much prominence as a hay plant among 
the many grasses belonging to the genus Agrostis. It was early 
introduced into the American Colonies. This grass has been known 
under many common names, such as whitetop, fiorin, white bent, and 
herd's grass. As these names belong more properly to other grasses, 
all of them should be dropped and the term redtop, by which it is 
most commonly laiown, used exclusively. It is a perennial grass, 
Avith a creeping habit of growth, which makes a coarse, loose turf. 
It matures at about the same time as timothy. The leaves are about 
one-fourth of an inch wide, and the stems small and wiry. The hay 
is inclined to be tough and is generally unpopular on the market. 

VALUE. 

No grass will grow under a greater variety of conditions than red- 
top. It is the best wet-land grass among the tame species. It will 
grow on soils so deficient in lime that most other grasses fail. It is 
strongly drought resistant and is often used for holding banks to 
prevent erosion. Eedtop is second only to bluegrass as a pasture 
plant in the northeastern part of the country. It is a vigorous grower 
and will serve in a short time where a turf is desired. It will thrive 
from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from New York to Cali- 
fornia. Though often used in lawn mixtures, its use by itself for 
that purpose is not to be recommended. The turf is unsightly after 
the first year, and it tends to keep out more desirable species. It will 
add to the yield of a timothy and clover hay crop, but is considered 
objectionable by buyers of market hay. 

USES. 

The chief uses of this grass are (1) as a wet-land or sour-land hay 
crop; (2) as a part of pasture mixtures under himiid conditions, 

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especially on soils other than limestone; (3) as a soil binder; and 
(4) as an ingredient in all hay mixtures which are to be fed at home. 
It may be used for lawn purposes, especially on poor soils when 
the finer species of Agrostis can not be obtained. It is not a com- 
petitor of bluegrass for lawns, as the latter should be used on fertile 
limestone soils. Kedtop is a valuable grass when used for the pur- 
poses mentioned. 

SEED. 

Most of the seed of redtop is produced in southern Illinois. The 
seed is smaller than that of any other commercial grass, and for that 
reason should be comparatively free from impurities, as it is easily 
separated from other seeds by screening. It is sold in two grades, 
known as " chaffy " and " recleaned." The latter should be pur- 
chased, as it is more economical and there is less danger of its contain- 
ing noxious weed seeds. Redtop seed weighs about 14 pounds to 
the bushel in the chaff, while the recleaned seed should weigh about 
36 pounds. 

SOILS AND CLIMATE. 

Redtop is not only tolerant of a sour soil, but seems to prefer a 
soil deficient in lime. It grows to perfection in the part of southern 
IJlinois known locally as " Egypt," where many soils are very " sour " 
and poorly drained, with impervious hardpan subsoils. In New 
England it is the principal hay plant that is seeded, but it is fre- 
quently crowded out of meadows by quack-grass and Rhode Island 
bent. As previously stated, it is not particular in regard to climatic 
conditions, but thrives best with an abundance of moisture. Lands 
which are too wet for redtop are unsuited for nearly all other tame 



grasses. 



CULTURE. 



On account of its small seed redtop should have a fine, mellow seed 
bed, and care should be taken to prevent covering it too deeply in 
the soil. It may be seeded either in early spring or late summer. 
When seeded alone 10 pounds of good seed to the acre will insure a 
stand. From 4 to 5 pounds are sufficient when used with other 
grasses for hay, and 2 to 3 pounds are enough to use in pasture mix- 
tures, as it spreads quite readily under favorable conditions. 

Lyman Carrier, 

Agronomist. 

Washington, D. C, May 31, 1919. 



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